Tenn. Senate Votes to Put Income Tax Ban on Ballot

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Senate has voted to place a proposed constitutional amendment before Tennessee voters to ban a state income tax.

The chamber approved the income tax measure this morning on a 26-4 vote. If the House concurs, the amendments would be placed on the ballot in next year's general election.

The political fallout from failed efforts to impose a state income tax more than a decade ago has already made renewed efforts exceedingly unlikely.

But Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey of Germantown says his proposal is aimed at eliminating any uncertainty about the measure in the future.

Kelsey is also the sponsor of a constitutional amendment to give lawmakers the power to confirm or deny the governor's appointments to the state Supreme Court. A scheduled vote on that measure was put off for a week.